St Mary's Church, Dover facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church, Dover |
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| 51°7.5539′N 1°18.7730′E / 51.1258983°N 1.3128833°E | |
| OS grid reference | TR 319 415 |
| Location | Dover |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | http://stmarysdover.org.uk/ |
| History | |
| Dedication | Saint Mary the Virgin |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 30 June 1949 |
| Specifications | |
| Bells | 8 |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Dover Deanery |
| Diocese | Diocese of Canterbury |
St Mary's Church, also known as the Church of St Mary the Virgin, is an important old church in Dover, Kent. It's located right in the town centre on Cannon Street. This church is a Grade II* listed building, which means it's very special and protected. There has been a church on this spot for a very long time, even since Saxon times. Most of the church you see today was rebuilt in the 1800s.
Contents
A Look Back: Early History of St Mary's
This church stands on the site where Roman baths once were. People believe that the very first church here was built by the Saxons. The Domesday Book, a famous survey from 1086, mentions three churches in Dover. It's thought that St Mary's was one of them. The oldest parts of the church that are still standing today are the tower and some parts of the arches. These sections show the Norman architecture style from the early 1100s.
How Maison Dieu Influenced the Church
From the year 1230, the church was managed by Maison Dieu. This was a special building in Dover, created in 1203. It provided a place for pilgrims, who were people traveling from other countries to visit Canterbury Cathedral.
Reopening After Closure
In 1537, during a time called the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the church was closed. However, the people of Dover really wanted their church back. They asked for it, and so in 1544, St Mary's was reopened as a local parish church. From 1581, it became the official church for the Mayor and the town's government. This happened because St Peter's Church, which used to be their official church, was falling apart and was later taken down.
Modern Changes: Rebuilding the Church
Between 1843 and 1844, the church underwent a big rebuilding project. This happened when Canon John Puckle was in charge. Everything except the old tower was rebuilt. The new design followed the Early English style. The work was done by architects J. C. & C. Buckler. The church was made larger, and new windows were added high up in the walls, called clerestory windows. Later, in 1897, the tower was also repaired and made new again.
Surviving World War II Damage
During the Second World War, St Mary's Church was damaged. Luckily, it wasn't hit directly by bombs. However, many of its beautiful stained glass windows were destroyed. Since the war, new windows have been put in. These new windows remember important connections between the church and the town of Dover.
The Church Bells
St Mary's Church has eight bells. They were first made by a person named Samuel Knight in 1724. In 1898, when the church tower was being fixed, the bells were put into a new frame. A company called John Warner & Sons also remade the smallest bell. The bells have been rehung twice since then, once in 1947 and again in 2002.
Remembering the Herald of Free Enterprise
The church holds a special memorial for the people who died in the MS Herald of Free Enterprise disaster. This ship capsized, or turned over, outside Zeebrugge in Belgium. It happened on March 6, 1987, while the ship was on its way to Dover.
